Pollo Campero

Mmmmm Compadre
Great chicken !
Nice, clean, they bring out the well prepared tasty food on actual China.

This is the most difficult review I have written. As a small business owner I understand the risk, energy and people who depend on the success of a business for survival. While I have no issue rating a place with one star if the experience is poor, I do have an issue writing a sub par review of an establishment when I am uncertain about a few things. My first decision was to not write a review after visiting Pollo Campero in West Saint Paul. This location is across the parking lot from where I get my haircut. I asked the person who cuts my hair if she had been to Pollo Campero. She said in the three years she has worked at this location it wasn’t until last month she finally had lunch at Pollo Campero. I asked how she liked it. Her first reply was it was great. She is not in the business of saying negative things to customers. I shared how I had the empanada and wasn’t sure. The plate looked baron with no sauce or veggies. The only positive was they use real silverware. The taste was ok, but the aftertaste was similar to the grease taste from Taco Bell empanadas. I shared I doubt I would go back and she said the same. She liked it, but would not hurry back. What we both agreed was that we did not try their chicken. This may by the item the franchise is based on. The simple menu is Latin chicken and spicy or mild empanadas plus five side orders (none of them looked appealing by the pictures). Simple. Maybe too simple. I cannot enthusiastically endorse the place. I can say it has a large parking lot and is sparkly clean inside. I will be checking future reviews and each month when I get my haircut I will wonder about their chicken… if I try it out I will update my review.

There is literally a KFC next door, and I have no idea how it exists with Pollo Campero making such good fried chicken. The Cornell’s 11 herbs and spices have nothing on Pollo Campero’s white pepper dominate, crunchy breading and perfectly cooked chicken. Campero even knows how to keep the white meat juicy and delicious! I’m a big fan of their white meat, boneless nuggets.
There’s not a huge variety on the menu, but this is a good thing. Stay focused on the chicken, Campero rice (rice mixed with grilled corn, peppers, beans, and seasoning), yuca fries, fried plantains, beans, and Latin-​American drinks. Of course they’ll give you honey mustard, if that’s your thing, but really, the way to go is the pack your own fresh salsa bar!

Much Better than KFC Located next door. Pollo Campero offers a welcome, Latina take on fried chicken. Instead of having a multiple versions of fried chicken, based on levels of crispiness — Pollo offers one variety of fried chicken, grilled chicken, and boneless nuggets.
We went for the classic fried chicken and weren’t disappointed. It was ‘spiced’ without being spicy and the breading is thick enough for a subtle crunch w/​o being crunchy. Flavorful stuff. A good mix of wings, drumsticks and white meat in our meal. We also selected three slides: fries (soggy; meh), plantains (I want a whole bucket of these; woot!) and rice (a tasty take on latin rice with roasted corn and other bits; nice).
The meal also comes with a choice of fresh corn torillas or dinner roles. We selected tortillas… and they were good… but dinner roles would have been more popular. On Tues and Weds, you also get free chips with any meal. The ones we got were, unfortunately, stale.
I included a spicy empanada with my order — and was REALLY looking forward to trying it… but they forgot to include it (although it was paid for). Moral? Verify the contents of your order before leaving their drive thru.

We ordered Pollo Campero for a family event. We ordered a lot of food– enough to feed approximately 25 people. The ordering process was a little more tedious than I would have preferred as it took a couple of phone calls to get it all straightened out. Once we got the food though, it was worth any hassle. The food was amazing. We ordered white rice, black beans, chicken, fries, empanadas, yucca, and plantains. Everything was absolutely delicious. The chicken and empanadas were my favorite!

The hype is real. Grilled chicken? Dericious. Price point to flavor profile is deserving of a visit. Quick and friendly staff. Get an empanada for the road while you’re at it.

Absolutely delicious! I would definitely recommend (I’ve never dined in) but the take-​out is delicious and they package it very well.
The only negative point is that my dad had some difficulty ordering a large catering request. So if you are looking to cater, that may be a different story than if you are just looking to order from drive through or dine in.

Grilled??? How about Stewed?
I had my first Pollo Campero experience at the St. Paul, MN location and I have to say it was terrible. The plantains were wonderful and the tortilla’s were fine, but the Grilled chicken certainly seemed to have never been anywhere near a grill. It seemed like it was stewed, then dipped in the citrus marinade and served. Hope that this was a mistake. Is this how the grilled chicken should be prepared? Mine looked nothing like any of the photos for grilled chicken on Unilocal or their website. I got it to go or I sure would have complained at the store.

I’ve had the empanadas, the fried and grilled chicken and most of the sides. Food is delicious. Restaurant is clean. Staff is friendly. Hope to see more of these in the future.

The best food ever, great service. Clean open space. The tacos are big enough that both my wife and I take the extra tortilla and put some of our chicken on that and make 4 tacos out of the meal. The chicken is awesome. This is one of our favorite restaurants. So much to choose from and its all good.

Love this place. This time I had the empanadas and my sine had the tacos and plantains. The chicken, both fried and grilled, is hands down some of the best. There is a KFC next door and the parking lot always looks deserted. It’s the opposite at Pollo.

Best chicken tacos ever! I love this place! Wanted to try something knew and I never stopped going. Must try!

I love this chicken. If chickens knew they could taste this good they would be glad to die for it. Plus, what other fast food place operates like a pricier place and brings your food & throws your trash away? Well, Boston market does, but this place is less pricy and maintains good standards.

Pollo Campero has excellent «Latin Style» grilled chicken! Don’t forget to order a side of sweet plantains…

Everything about Matt N’s review below is completely contradictory to my many experiences at Pollo Campero. I could not disagree more!
The employees have always been extremely polite and friendly… something you never see in other fast food restaurants.
The skin on the chicken is the crispiest I have seen. The meat, moist and juicy. I love the Spicy Chicken empanadas. The tacos are authentic style, with two soft corn tortillas.
I stop here often for a good, inexpensive lunch.
PS: Christian music, Matt? All I ever hear there is happy Mexican music.

I showed up to this restaurant thinking that it would be a good change from Taco Bell or KFC, but it really wasn’t any better. The first thing that was unsettling was that when I walked in, the people behind the counter acted like they didn’t want to be there. I felt as though I should have been one of their nameless-​faceless drive through customers. No one smiled, no one had a positive sounding voice, and everyone sort of acted like it was a big deal for someone to come in to the store rather than go through the drive through. There was no hospitality on their part… I literally got into the restaurant, no one said hello and they stood there silently until I ordered… awkward!
The second thing that was weird was their loud Christian music that was playing. I found it kind of offensive because I am not a Christian and I would rather hear something else.
The third thing that really pissed me off was that the portions of food were really small. I could have paid the same amount at literally any other restaurant on Robert street and received twice as much food. I believe it helps to look Mexican when you come into this restaurant because the workers that served the people behind me the same food… we literally ordered the same thing on the menu and it was weird… had more more food that kept being refilled.
Other things that were stupid included not being told until after ordering horchata that refills were a dollar charge. I was also brought my food, but I didn’t receive the expensive horchata or my silverware which was inconveniencing.
The food there is really nothing special. I ordered the camperitos which were basically fried balls of boneless chicken. Nothing that I couldn’t just get cheaper at KFC or, well McDonalds.
Don’t go to this restaurant unless you want to feel lots of buyer’s remorse, awkward, and starving when you are done. There are so many other options that are better on Robert street.

In 2006, I lived in San Berdoo, CA. Pollo Campero — awesome!
In 2014, I work in St. Paul, MN. Pollo Campero — even better.
I came in and knew within five seconds that my favorite Latin musical style was being played; and, it was positive music with a positive message.
I got the ½ dark meat citrus grilled, ½ fried, and two sides for $ 20.99. So, this was like eating an entire bird. My sides were seasoned rice with corn and yucca fries. Both were great; however, the fries I could not stop eating and they served me more chipotle mayonnaise and it it was just divine.
The menu is so huge, I can come back and get something totally different. I think I will try the empanadas next.

The best grilled chicken I have ever eaten. The fried chicken is very tasty too. Great customer service and friendly atmosphere. Should definitely be everyone’s go to for fast food chicken.

West St. Paul has everything on the same road while taking a trip to the Target I noticed a giant sign for fried chicken I thought it was funny and ironic that right next door is a KFC. Thinking to myself hey if they build a chicken place right next to the king of fried chicken it must be good. So my conscious was correct.
The fried Chicken was moist and crunchy, They have regular American sides like mash potatoes and fries but you can also get some South American items too I tried the fried plantains with a side of sour cream SOO good! I loved the fact that they serve all their food if you eat in on actual plates instead of plastic or paper dinnerware. I will have to write a update review when I try their burritos next time .
The staff were all friendly and even waved us goodbye when we left. Stop by here instead of KFC for your fried chicken cravings because you won’t regret it.

Not too shabby. Walking up to the door with the smells wafting out of the place made me in the mood for something greasy and unhealthy.
First time there, but not the last.
Nice selection of Guatemalan cuisine. The friendly gentleman (owner, manager?) confirmed that it was centered around Guatemalan cuisine.
Ordered the 8 Piece Family Dinner that came with 2 sides. Chose the fried chicken option with Campero Rice and the Yuca Fries.
–Fried chicken was alright. Nothing spectular. A tad greasy, but still moist. Not overwhelming with flavor, but still manages to be tasty.
–Campero rice was enjoyable and tasty
–Yuca Fries– loved them and the dipping sauce that accompanied them
–corn tortillas were fresh (choice of tortillas or biscuit)
Other options for sides are:
beans, plantains, fries, black beans and rice, and some other choices.
They do also have burritos and chicken strips.
We tried a piece of the grilled chicken which I think is what we will choose next time. Good flavoring and seasoning.
Staff was very nice and helpful.
Appreciated the mini salsa bar to go. Pico, salsa, onion and cilantro.
Nice alternative to KFC or the other chicken joints.